Peavy XXX II, Carvin V3, or Genz Benz Diablo....choices

[JOEBACCA]

I sold some gear recently and am looking to pull the trigger on one of these amps. I've watched countless Videos and done some research. I don't want to spend more than $1000. Nice Sparkly Cleans to Crunch to Verge of Meltdown High Gain is what I'm looking for. And I've narrowed it down to these:

The Peavey XXX II- for its balls out Gain and built in Noise Gate on the

rhythm and lead channels, Nice usable Clean Channel, USA Made, and I can

get it for under $1000 used but in like new condition.

The Carvin V3- for its sheer versatility, 100w/50w/25w switch, Smart Loops,

Built in Reverb, Midi Capability, and purdy Multi Colored Channel Assignable

LED Lights, USA Made, and I can get it New with the FS44 Footswitch for

$950.

The Genz Benz El Diablo- I can get it used for around $500- $550 with the

Footswitch and Cover, Demo's are all over the place...most UTube reviews

sound God Awful but some sound promising. The Cleans are REEEEALLY Nice

the Gain Channel can get pretty Brutal, it has a switch for 50w and 100w

and it has a sweet Blue LED Light. The Controls don't look as intuitive

compared to the PV and V3 but the price is really good....but sometimes you

get what you pay for.

If anyone that has owned or does own any of these amps could give me

some Pro's and Con's, what did you like or not like about them, are they

worth the Price Tag, are they Reliable etc. Any Insight would be Great

Thanks!

 

[Wattage]

Re: Peavy XXX II, Carvin V3, or Genz Benz Diablo....choices

Well I have a XXX (not a II) and it is a killer amp with a good tube upgrade. They can be had for $500 without much effort. Worth a look maybe.

 

[allstarrme]

I have a Genz Benz El diablo with 2 G flex 2x12 cabs and it is great. I retubed it with JJ E34L's and some high gain 12ax7's. It has great cleans and can do lots of high gain heavy stuff, from scooped to super crunchy. I run a modded boss overdrive on the clean for a third channel. It has a solo boost too that can be adjusted. Other than not having a third channel for low gain overdrive crunch it does anything I could want. I got it for 400ish and spent a little to have it worked on and retubed. I may try some 6L6's or 6CA7's in the future. The only other amps I was considering were the 5150 ii/6505+ or a mesa dual/triple rectifier. I couldn't justify spending 700 or 1200 on an amp I would modify just to try them out when this one works great. I have played a bunch of shows with the Genz Benz, and it seems to be holding up great.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Peavy XXX II, Carvin V3, or Genz Benz Diablo....choices

A few years ago I wrote a pretty in-depth review of my El Diablo combo. For some reason it doesn't show up on searches. However, here are a few threads where I've wrote about it while replying to other members. There should be a lot of info still that may help you. I loved the amp but it wasn't the tone I was looking for anymore (I'm into Oranges right now, that mid-range fuzz isn't available on the Genz-benz anymore than any other amps than Oranges so...).

here
here

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Peavy XXX II, Carvin V3, or Genz Benz Diablo....choices

I'd go with Genz benz

 

[jtougas]

Re: Peavy XXX II, Carvin V3, or Genz Benz Diablo....choices

While I do not have any experience with the V3 itself, the feature set is killer, and would add a lot of functionality for recording as well as stage.

Also, the X60 combo amp I had possessed sweet cleans and great distortion. If Carvin has continued that trend (and by most accounts they have), I don't think you'll be disappointed.

 

[MojoMonster]

Re: Peavy XXX II, Carvin V3, or Genz Benz Diablo....choices

The Carvin V3- for its sheer versatility, 100w/50w/25w switch, Smart Loops,
Built in Reverb, Midi Capability, and purdy Multi Colored Channel Assignable
LED Lights, USA Made, and I can get it New with the FS44 Footswitch for
$950.

I can't speak to the XXX or the El Diablo, but I own a non-LED V-3 with stock tubes and it's crazy good for a sub-$1K amp.
I'm running it through a V30 412 and it does everything I need it to.
At some point the plan is to upgrade the EL34 tubes and pair it with another V3 running 6L6s or something like a Peavey JSX in a "stereo" setup.

Bear in mind that while older V3s don't have the LEDs, 25 watt option or digital reverb, you can find them all over eBay for around $600.

Good luck!

 

[papersoul]

Re: Peavy XXX II, Carvin V3, or Genz Benz Diablo....choices

The Peavey is horrible - stay away, please. Too much buzzy gain. I really don't like any of those amps to be honest.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Peavy XXX II, Carvin V3, or Genz Benz Diablo....choices

I have an older V3, without the reverb, lights, 25/50/100 setting, and love it. Factor in an extra $120 to retube and rebias it with JJ Tubes from Eurotubes to bring it to its full potential. It's not really a plug and play amp, there's a massive amount if tweaking available, it takes you a while to dial in your tones, but when you do you'll be amazed.

Again- when it came stock, it sounded cold, sterile, buzzy, only good at full bore metal. I replaced the power tubes with Mesa Boogie EL-34's, re-biased it a bit hotter, and the tone improved tremendously. Then I added a matched set of JJ preamp tubes, and it seemed like each of the tone controls became alot more responsive.

The V3 is more of a tone-sculpting tool. Add a little delay in the effects loop and the tone can be godly.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Peavy XXX II, Carvin V3, or Genz Benz Diablo....choices

Also check out the Carvin Legacy

 

[lotus eater]

Re: Peavy XXX II, Carvin V3, or Genz Benz Diablo....choices

+1 for the Carvin Legacy. I'm sorry but I agree that the others have a bit too much buzz saw sound for me. It's fine if that's what your going for, and playing high gain stuff - But They are not the sort of amps I like to hear with mild saturation. I guess what I'm saying is I would stick to the Carvin. Very well built, and awsome customer support. Oh and I find my friend's Genz has terrible mid structure. You have to scoop the hell out of it to make it sound decent. I have never gotten a sound I like from it.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Peavy XXX II, Carvin V3, or Genz Benz Diablo....choices

If you are considering the Carvin legacy, look at their new Legacy 3. The original Legacy really needed to be cranked, Vai had to use the Jemini pedal to get the tones he needed, the Legacy 2 he didn't use much, the Legacy 3 is the best of the 3.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Peavy XXX II, Carvin V3, or Genz Benz Diablo....choices

Why not check a used JSX since it appears that is all the XXXII is?

 

[Juanhanglo]

Re: Peavy XXX II, Carvin V3, or Genz Benz Diablo....choices

I say check out the carvin legacy. This comes from a happy genz benz owner (i have both the 60w combo and the 100w head)
I would look for a 60 watt el diablo head. They seem to be smoother than the 100 watters. Even the folks at genz benz seem to think so.
It also has a triode switch that cufs it to 30 watts and REALLY changes the sound of the amp ( as compared to the 50/100 w drop), and makes the eq controls function better.

That said, i am gassing for a legacy 3!
Anybody want to buy a 100w head?

 

[jtougas]

Re: Peavy XXX II, Carvin V3, or Genz Benz Diablo....choices

Why not check a used JSX since it appears that is all the XXXII is?

I played through a JSX head this past weekend... I wasn't much impressed.

The clean channel was great, there was plenty of distortion in the crunch and ultra channels, but there was something trebly and fizzy going on that was unaffected by the treble controls in those two channels. Couldn't get rid of it.

Now then, I was playing a Tele through it, but both pups in series provides plenty of muscle.

 

[JOEBACCA]

Re: Peavy XXX II, Carvin V3, or Genz Benz Diablo....choices

Thanks for all the responses fellers!!! So as It looks I have 3 recommendations for the

Genz Benz and 3 recommendations for the V3. This is tough...I feel like for the price the

Genz Benz has my attention. If I don't like it I could re-sell it and pretty much break

even. On the other hand the V3 feature set is stacked and if I bought it New and didn't

dig it I could send it right back to Carvin and get a refund. As for the Triple XXX

II.....no love? Or has nobody tried it yet? It sounds pretty beastly from some of the

clips I've heard.


Hey Wattage the Original XXX aint bad, I played on one a few times and I dug the

tones for the most part, I know I could get one used in the $500 range but I did prefer

the JSX over the first XXX . I didn't realize the JSX and the Triple XXX II are the same?

Is that true? I know Satch went back to his Marshalls and Peavey discontinued his JSX

Line but I didn't think Peavey just changed the cosmetics and re-badged them as the

Triple XXX II......if that truly is the case I would definitely consider the JSX.


As for the Legacy 3....not really interested, no offense to anyone that is. I saw it in

the new Carvin catalog....meh. I like the idea of condensing a 100 watter in a smaller

box but IDK the cosmetics are Fugly as hell IMO. If it sounds good thats cool but

again...meh.

 

[JOEBACCA]

Re: Peavy XXX II, Carvin V3, or Genz Benz Diablo....choices

Well........the decision was made. Had to pull the trigger on the deal, it was too good to pass up. NAD thread to come next week!!!

 

[Gamera]

Re: Peavy XXX II, Carvin V3, or Genz Benz Diablo....choices

It's next week. Whatcha get?

 

[Wattage]

Re: Peavy XXX II, Carvin V3, or Genz Benz Diablo....choices

Yes as far as I know XXX II = JSX

I love Peavey and trust me I have a lot of fun watching sourpuss faces sticking their noses up when I set up. My X's have both kicked a whole lot of ass, good tubes make a world of difference and Peavey doesn't really ship them with the best tubes that's for sure. Played my head thru a Bruno 2x12 cab last night, what a nice cab!

 

[formula73]

Re: Peavy XXX II, Carvin V3, or Genz Benz Diablo....choices

The V3 has been compared to the Framus Cobra in the way of tone, and I consider that a good thing. That amp could friggin do ANYTHING and it didn't even have reverb!